Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Tennessee College Selects Designers for $72M Renovation Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/10/24

Tennessee College of Applied Tech Memphis (TCAT Memphis) in Memphis, Tenn., recently announced that it has approved documents from DLR Group and 4FDesign for an upcoming multi-phased renovation project, a news release reports. DLR Group previously completed the college’s 2020 TCAT Statewide Master Plan Update. The project will cost an estimated $72 million, an allocation from state governor Bill Lee’s “Tennessee: Leading the Nation Agenda” initiative providing a $1-billion investment in technology colleges.

The campus replacement project will take place across multiple phases, according to the news release. An existing 115,000-square-foot building will be replaced with a new construction of 85,000 square feet. The project also involves building a new 35,000-square-foot one-story high-bay lab and classroom structure and the renovation of two existing buildings, as well as improvements to site development, parking areas, drives, and infrastructure.

“Embarking on this multi-phased renovation project for TCAT Memphis is an opportunity to lead the community in health and science pathways and increase visibility around TBR’s [the Tennessee Board of Regents’] initiatives,” said Benjamin R. Strain, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Higher Education Design Leader at DLR Group. “The first phase of the campus replacement project will shine a beacon on TCAT Memphis.”

DLR Group will serve as the Design Architect and 4FDesign the Architect of Record. The project is currently in the Construction Documentation (CD) process.

“With 40 years of experience working on TBR and State of TN projects, 4FDesign brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record to every project,” said Curt Pierce, AIA NCARB, LAI, ULI, 4FDesign Vice President and Principal. “TCAT Memphis is a moment for 4FDesign to ensure the college and Tennessee state keeps pace with career-fueled economies by revitalizing its Career Technical Education (CTE) program with new construction.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.